Dental bite apparatus



Aug 20, 1929- T. J. BuRGEs's 1,725,249

DENTAL BITE APPARATUS Filed D80. 9, 1926 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES THOMAS J'. BURGESS, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

DENTAL BITE APPARATUS.

Application filed December 9, 1926.

This invention is related to dental apparatus and particularly to thosedevices for guiding the lower jaws of patients while dentists areengaged in taking impressions of the patients teeth in preparation forthe construction of dental work as, for example, plates.

In order to properly construct formations for artificial teeth, it isnecessary for the dentist to know the exact shape of the jaw and teethwithin the mouth. It has been found that in taking impressions of theteeth and jaw with the wax or compound used for the purpose, that thepatient has a tendency to throw the lower jaw outwardly to an extendedand unnatural position. The result is that an impression in the wax orcompound is obtained which is not only unnatural but is misleading tothe dentist and sometimes result in the construction of artificial teethstructures which are inaccurate. To avoid this, trial plates aresometimes made.

Attempts to provide means for guiding the lower jaw have been made, butthose apparatuses for this purpose, with which I am familiar, have nomeans for positively and accurately guiding the lower jaw to the properposition while at the same time permitting a ready release of the lowerjaw when the bite, to produce the impression in the wax or compound, hasbeen completed.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedapparatus for guiding to a proper position the lower jaw of a dentalpatient having an impression of the teeth taken, thus insuring animpression with the teeth in normal registration.

Another objectof this invention is the provision of such an apparatuswhich will have a chin-holding member which is positively limited in itsaction relative to the head of the patient.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such an apparatushaving a chin-holding member which when in place will draw the chin toits natural position when the jaws of the patient are being closed, butwill release the jaw as soon as the latter' begins to open.

Another and further object of this invention is the provision of such anapparatus which not only produces a bite in the wax which is so accuratethat the preparation of Serial N0. 153,546.

trial plates is unnecessary but which will have no parts to besterilized after use.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, from a reading of the complete specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated oneembodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus in place on the head of apatient.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus by itself.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughoutthe several views of the drawing.

The main supporting device of my invention includes aportion forcontacting at the rear of the patients head and a portion for contactingat the top of the patients head. In the embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, I provide a back board 10 and a top board 11hinged together at 12. The hinge is so related to the boards 10 and 11,that they may close together but may not open farther than the angledposition shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the purpose of thehinge is to compactly fold the parts 10 and 11 together.

The back board 10 is preferably, though not necessarily, of a shapeconforming to the outline of the head of a patient as shown in Fig. 2.This back board 10 is shown as of sutlicient length to engage not onlythe back of t-he head but also the back of the shoulders as well. Thetop board 11 contacts with the top of the head as shown in Fig. 2 and ispreferably inclined downwardly as illustrated to gain a firm grip uponthe head. The back and top boards may be of wood, metal or any othersuitable material.

Secured to the rear of the back board 1() is a swivel plate 18 in whichis swiveled a screw 14 which is provided with a wing 15 for turning thescrew. On the screw 14 is located an adjustment nut 16 which carries anelongated bearing 17. lVithin the bearing 17 is a shaft 18 which isfreely movable in its bearing 17 both axially and rotatively. At theouter portion of each end of the shaft 18 is pivoted two -side members19 of the retractor. These side members 19 are attached at their otherends to the ends of the chin-engaging member 20 of the retractor.

The side members 19 of the retractor are constructed of metal or wood orany other suitable material. The chin-engaging member 2O is made of somesuitable soft flexible material as cotton or leather, the upper andlower edges being preferably bound with a cord to form a bead at theedge. This causes a pocket to b e formed for the point of the chin, thebeads being above and below to assist the chin-engaging member to stayin place.

The side members 19 are provided with a series of openings to receivethe shaft 18 in any one of a plurality of adjustments. These holes areclose enough together to provide, with the co-operation of theadjustment of the screw 14, a means for adjusting in any position of theretractor necessary for the proportions of the head of the particularpatient, the impression of whose mouth is being taken.

In using my invention, the top and back boards 10 and 11 are put inplace, the screw 14 is turned so as to drive the nut 16 inwardly towardthe bacl board 10. One side member 19 is put in place on the shaft 18.r1`he chin-engaging member 20 is brought around and one of the openingsof the other side member made to register' with the shaft 18. Vvlliilethis putting vthe parts in position is takingplace and subsequentlyduring the adjustment, the jaws should be held closed with the condylesof the inferior maxillary firmiy in the glenoid fessee. `While in thisposition, the screw 14 by its wing 15 is turned until the chin-engagingmember 20 of the retractor is so snug against the chin that no forwardmovement of the jaw may take place. The patient is now ready to receivethe wax for the impression.

The parts are preferably so arranged that lthe plane passing through theaxis of the shaft 18 and the point of contact between the flexiblechin-engaging member 20 and the chin, will be below the condyles of theinferior maxillary or if not below, then not higherl than the saine. Itis obvious that as the jaw closes, with the retractor adjusted as abovedescribed, the jaws will be brought back to their normal and properclosed position.

After the adjustment, the wax is placed in the mouth with the retractorin place. The patient now closes his jaws which are not affected by thepresence of the wax since the retractor causes the proper registry ofthe teeth or gums.

With my invention, it is clear that not only will a proper bite beobtained, but there will be no parts which require sterilization. Thisaccuracy which I have found to be incident to the use of my inventionmakes the preparation of trial plates unnecessary and this saves timefor both operator and patient.

A very particular feature of my invention when constructed as described,is that the jaw when open is freely movable yet always is caused toclose to the proper position.

While I have described and shown in detail an embodiment of myinvention, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself tothe exact showing and that modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A dental bite apparatus comprising al stiff support having a. portionin position to engage the rear of the patients head, another portion inposition to engage the back of the shoulders and another portion inposition to positively engage the top of the head of the patient, and a`jaw retractor pivoted to the support and at a point to the rear of thatoccupied by the condyles of the inferior maxillary of the patient.

Q. A dental bite apparatus comprising a stiff support having a portionin position to engage the rear of the patients head, another portioninposition to engage the back of the shoulders and another portion inposition v to positively engage the top of the head of the patient, anda jaw retractor pivoted to the supportand at a point to the rear of thatoccupied by the condyles of the inferior maxillary of the patient, thejaw retractor having a portion for engaging the point of the chin of thepatient-.

3. A dental bite apparatus comprising a support having two positivelyengaging points for engagement with a patients head, a jaw retractorpivoted to the support on a substantially horizontal axis to the rear ofthe position occupied by the condyles of the inferior maxillary of thepatient, a shaft upon which the retractor is pivoted and means forpivoting the shaft for movement in a vertical plane.

4. A dental bite apparatus comprising a support having two positivelyengaging points for engagement with a patients head, a jaw reti-actorpivoted to the support on a substantially horizontal axis to the rear ofthe position occupied by the condyles of the inferior maxillary of thepatient, a shaft upon which the retractor is pivoted, means for pivotingthe shaft for movement in a vertical plane and means for adjusting thepivoting means to draw the retractor against the chin of the patient.V

5. A dental bite apparatus comprising a support, the support having aflat back member of a size and shape to engage the back of the shouldersand head of a patient, and also having a top board hinged to the flatback member and having limited movement therewith, a jaw retractorhaving a flexible chin-engaging member and two relatively stiff sidemembers, a swivel plate attached to the rear of the back member, a screwhaving a swivel connection to the swivel plate, a nut on the screw andadjustable therealong when the screw is tur'ned, a shaft secured to thenut and having the retractor side members pivoted thereon.

6. A dental bite apparatus comprising a support, the support having aflat back member of a size and shape to engage the back of the shouldersand head of a patient, and also having a top board hinged to the flatback member and having limited movement therewith, a jaw retractorhaving a flexible chin-engaging member and two relatively stiff sidemembers, a swivel plate attached to the rear of the back member, a screwhaving a swivel connection to the swivel plate, a nutI on the screw andadjustable therealong when the screw is turned, a shaft secured to thenut and having the retractor side members pivoted thereon, the retractorside members being adjustable along the shaft.

7. A dental bite apparatus comprising a support, the support having aflat back member of a size and shape to engage the back of t-heshoulders and head of a patient, and also having a top board hinged tothe flat back member and having limited movement therewith, a jawretractor having a flexible chin-engaging member and two relativelystiff side members, a swivel plate attached to therear of the backmember, a screw having a swivel connection to the swivel plate, a nut onthe screw and adjustable therealong when the screw is turned, a shaftsecured to the nut and having the retractor side members pivotedthereon, the swivel, screw, nut, shaft and pivotal connection to theside members being such as to permit the shaft to pivot in a planesubstantially parallel to the back member, to permit the side members tobe adjusted along the shaft and to permit the movement of the nut alongthe screw to tighten the retractor on the chin of the patient.

In testimony whereof- I hereunto aiiX my Signature.

THOMAS J. BURGESS.

